Not many expected these cricketers to make the cut but they managed to find a place in the ODI squad for the New Zealand series.

The Indian squad for the first 3 ODIs of the upcoming 5-match series against New Zealand was announced last week. While some of the big names that were rested for the series against Zimbabwe earlier this year have returned to the side, a few credible performers from that series have been shown the door.

The squad selection also saw some surprise additions as out of favour cricketers regained their spot in the team whereas certain players who hardly had any role to play in the Zimbabwe series have retained theirs.

Here are 5 cricketers whose inclusion in the Indian ODI team for the New Zealand series was a bit surprising:

#5 Jayant Yadav

Jayant Yadav is yet to make his international debut (Image Credit: ESPNCricinfo)

Haryana off-spinner Jayant Yadav received his maiden call-up to the Indian ODI team in June this year for the tour of Zimbabwe as a number of the regular members in the side had been rested.

However, he did not feature in any of the 3 one-day matches and also wasn’t included in the playing XI during the T20Is.

On the other hand, some of the other new players who accompanied Yadav on the tour did make their debuts and put up a decent performance. Therefore, it comes as a surprise that Yadav has pipped the likes of Yuzvendra Chahal, who took 6 wickets in 3 matches, to find a place in the Indian team for the New Zealand ODI series.